Transcription
ExperiencingGodKnowing and Doingthe Will of GodBBC Student Ministries2011/2012
IntroductionHave you ever found yourself in any of thesesituations? Frustrated with your Christian experienceo You know that there should be more to your life than whatyou currently haveo You know that there should be a deeper relationshipbetween you and Godo Your Christian walk has become dry and monotonousBegging God to show you what he wants you to do, but not gettingany answerso You want that deeper walk and you put a ton of energy intoasking God for it but you are still stuck in the same rutso Feels like God is not listening, not there, not caringDesiring a deeper and more intimate walk with God, but not surewhat to doo You know you need to be more in tune with God, to bemore obedient to himo You have tried some things (i.e. reading your Bible, praying,etc.) but nothing seems to be workingGoals To be able to hear when God is speaking to usTo be able to clearly identify his activity in your lifeTo be able to believe him to be and do everything he has promisedTo be able to adjust our beliefs, character and behavior to God andhis waysTo be able to recognize a direction He is taking in our lives andidentify what he wants to do through our livesTo be able to clearly know what we need to do in response to hisactivity in your lifeTo be able to experience God doing through us what only he can do2
NOTE: Just going through this study is not going to achieve these goals.These are things that only God can do through us. You must be willingto take the things we discuss and actually implement them into your lifein order for things to change!Seven Realities1. God is always at work around you.2. God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real andpersonal.3. God invites you to become involved with him in his work.4. God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer,circumstances and the church to reveal himself, his purposes andhis ways.5. God’s invitation for you to work with him always leads you to a crisisof belief that requires faith and action.6. You must make major adjustments in your life to join God in whathe is doing.7. You come to know God by experience as you obey him and heaccomplishes his work through you.3
Keeping a Spiritual JournalOne of the goals for this study is to gain the ability to hear God when heis speaking to us. Part of learning to hear God involves learning to focusour heart and our mind on God. One way to gain this type of focus isthrough spiritual journaling.For the purpose of this study, it will be good to have a notebook thatcan be divided up into five categories.The first category is Testimonies. In this section, you will be able to writedown how God is working around you and through you.The second category is Daily Review. Use this section to recordsummaries of what God is saying to you through your time alone withhim. You can also include areas in your life that you believe God isleading you to change or adjust to match with his will and other steps ofobedience that you know God is calling for.The third category is for Weekly Review. After going through eachweek’s group teaching you can use the following questions to reviewGod’s activity in your life. Some weeks you may not need to answereach question. What has God revealed to you about himself? (His name,character, nature) What has God revealed to you about his purpose? (His will,plans, desires, activity around you, assignment for you, goalsobjectives) What has God revealed to you about his ways? (How he acts,what he does, how he responds in certain circumstances, thekind of people he uses, the ways he involves people in his work,the way he accomplishes his purposes) What Scriptures has god used to speak to you about himself, hispurposes or his ways?4
What particular person or concern has God given you a burdento pray for? What has he guided you to pray for this person orconcern?What has God done through circumstances that have given youa sense of his timing or direction about any aspect of his will?What adjustment is God leading you to make in your life?What acts of obedience have you taken this week?What acts of obedience do you know God wants you to take?The fourth category is Spiritual Markers. These are the times that Godhas clearly spoken to you. You need to write these events down so thatyou can go back to this journal and be reminded of how God has beenfaithful to do what he has promised to do.The fifth category is Prayer Requests. Use this section to track prayerrequests for yourself and for others. When God answers a request youhave in your journal, be sure to go to that request and write down thedate God provided the answer and a brief note how it was answered.These answered requests will become another type of spiritual markerin your life!5
Small Groups #1Memory Verse introductionJohn 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in meand I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can donothing. What is our role in our relationship with God? What is God’s role in his relationship with us? What type of relationship does a vine have with its branches? What is one key to “bearing much fruit”? What does “bearing fruit” mean?6
Jesus’ ExampleRead John 5:17, 19-20 below and answer the questions that follow.17But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I amworking.”19So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son cando nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20For theFather loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. Andgreater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.1. Who is always at work?2. How much can the Son do by himself?3. What does the Son do?4. Why does the Father show the Son what he is doing?This passage clearly shows how Jesus knew what he should do. Here isan outline of Jesus’s approach to knowing and doing God’s will. The Father has been working right up until now. Now the Father has me working. I do nothing on my own initiative. I watch to see what the Father is doing. I do what I see the Father is doing. The Father loves me. He shows me everything he is doing.7
Consider ThisTake a moment to really evaluate your life. What is your relationshiplike with God right now? Are you a branch that is connected to the TrueVine? Are you drawing your strength and your direction from God?If you are not “branching from God” in any area of your life, how’s thatworking out for you? Do you have the joy and peace in your life that youreally desire?Ask God to help you honestly evaluate your life to find those areaswhere you are relying on someone or something other than God. AskGod to help you surrender those areas to him every day! Ask God toshow you his will for you in life and to have the strength and courage itwill take to follow him wherever he will lead you.It might help to actually write down your prayer in your journal.NOTES8
Jesus – the way and the modelMemory Verse:John 15:5 - I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in meand I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can donothing.Jesus is the wayA relationship with Christ is the beginning point to having a deeper,more personal relationship with God.Once we have begun the relationship with God through salvation, weshould want to grow in our walk with him. God does not want us tosimply have the benefit of eternal life – he wants us to have a life in thisworld that is complete and full: John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. Icame that they may have life and have it abundantly.o -abundant in and!Jesus is our “map”Which of the following requests more closely resembles the way we askGod for guidance/to know his will for our life?Lord, what do you want me to do? When do you want me to do it?And please tell me what the outcome will be!Lord, just tell me what to do one step at a time and I will do it.Typically, we want to have ,and “road map” from God before we will doanything.9
John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.No one comes to the Father except through me.” He did not say, “I will show you the way.” He did not say, “I will give you a road map.” He did not say, “I will tell you which direction to go.” What did Jesus mean when he said “I am the way?”Example of AbramGenesis 12:1-5 What did God want Abram to do? How did God direct Abram in this passage? How did Abram respond?Many times, God simply calls people to follow him without giving manydetails. When God seems to be calling you to do something but notproviding the details, remember Matthew 6:33-34:33But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, andall these things will be added to you.34“Therefore do not beanxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.If we really desire to be obedient to God in all areas of our lives, wecan follow him with confidence even when we don’t have the detailswe would like to have.10
Jesus is the modelWhen we learn how God has consistently related to people in the past,we can expect him to relate to us in a similar way.True or false:I can trust my experience as an effective way to know andfollow GodI should always evaluate my experiences based on the truths Ifind in God’s wordI may get a distorted understanding of God if I do not check myexperiences against the truths of Scripture.I can trust God to work in my life similarly to ways I see himworking throughout the Scriptures.Our Guidebook“Look to see what God says and how he works in the Scriptures. Makeyour decisions based on biblical truths/principles.”Why is it important to read the Bible?When God called Abram in Genesis 12, Abram was given very fewdetails. Look up the following references and see if there is a pattern wecan expect to see in our own life – next to each reference, write whowas called and the details they were given.Matthew 4:18-20Matthew 4:21-22Matthew 9:9Acts 9:1-911
Sometimes God gives details, sometimes he doesn’t. Regardless of theamount of details that are given, we must stay to Christ –we have to maintain our with God to encounter him.Asking the right question“If we always ask the wrong question, we will always get the wronganswer!”What is the right question and why? “What is God’s will for my life?” “What is God’s will?”John 5:17, 19-20 - 17But Jesus answered them, “My Father is workinguntil now, and I am working.”19So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I sayto you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he seesthe Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son doeslikewise.20For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himselfis doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that youmay marvel. Who is always at work? How much can the Son do by himself? What does the Son do? Why does the Father show the Son what he is doing?Summary of Jesus’ example in John 5:17, 19-201. The Father has been working right up until now.2. Now the Father has me working.3. I do nothing on my own initiative.4. I watch to see what the Father is doing.5. I do what I see the Father doing.6. The Father loves me.7. He shows me everything he is doing.12
Reality #1 – God is always at work around meOne of the greatest tragedies we experience is that,although we really want to experience God on adeeper level, we are encountering him day after dayand failing to recognize him!This week, pray that God will help you to see where he isworking around you and that you would be willing toadjust your life so that you can be in the center of hisactivity.13
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Being a Servant of GodMatthew 20:26-28 - 26It shall not be so among you. But whoever wouldbe among you must be your , 27and whoeverwould be first among you must be your slave, 28even as the Son of Mancame not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom formany.Defining a “servant” One who what the master wants them to doand then it.World’s View servant finds out what the master wants and goes off byto do it.God’s View and clay Servant is by the master for a . Servant must be . Servant must in the master’s .Servant Example – Elijah – 1 Kings 18:16-39 Elijah was outnumbered to 1 – verse 19obeyed God and challenged the false prophetsGod did amazing things.o Elijah was willing to be .o Elijah was willing to in the master’s hand.Key Principle“Don’t just do something, stand there!” Too many times we are “busy” and don’t take the time to actuallysit and listen for God’s leading. “Find out where the Master is, then that is where you need to be”15
ooJohn 15:5 - I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoeverabides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, forfrom me you can do .John 12:26 - If anyone serves me, he must follow me; andwhere I am, will my servant be also. If anyoneserves me, the Father will honor him.Summary Statements To be a servant of God, I must be moldable and I must remain in theMaster’s hand.Apart from God, I can do nothing.With God working through me, I can do anything God can do.When I find out where the Master is, then I know that is where Ineed to be.I come to know God by experience as I obey him and heaccomplishes his work through me.Servant Example – Moses – Exodus 2-4Seven Realities in Action1. God was already working around Moses. Exodus 2:23-25 – 23During those many days the king of Egypt died,and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery andcried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up toGod.24And God their groaning, and Godhis covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25God sawthe people of Israel-and God .2. God pursued a continuing love relationship with Moses that is realand personal. Exodus 3:10 – , I will send you to Pharaoh that youmay bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”16
3. God invited Moses to become involved with him in his work. Exodus 3:8, 10 – 8and I have come down to themout of the hand of the Egyptians and to them up outof that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milkand honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, theAmorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 10Come, Iwill you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people,the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”4. God spoke to Moses to reveal himself, his purposes and his ways. Exodus 3:2-8 – 2And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in aflame of fire out of the midst of a bush.”4When the Lord saw thathe turned aside to see, God to him out of thebush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”5Then he said,“Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the placeon which you are standing is holy ground.”6And he said, “I am theGod of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and theGod of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look atGod.7Then the Lord said, “I have surely theaffliction of my people who are in Egypt and havetheir cry because of their taskmasters. I know their, 8and I have come down tothem out of the hand of the Egyptians and tothem up out of that land to a good and broadland, a land flowing with milk and honey 5. God’s invitation for Moses to work with him lead to a crisis of beliefthat required faith and action. Exodus 3:11, 13 – 11But Moses said to God, “that I should go to Pharaoh and bring thechildren of Israel out of Egypt?”13Then Moses said to God, “If Icome to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your17
fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is hisname?’ what to them?”Exodus 4:1, 10 – 1Then Moses answered, “But behold, they willnot me or to my voice, for theywill say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’”10But Moses said to theLord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not , either in the pastor since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speechand of tongue.”Exodus 4:13 – But he said, “Oh, my Lord, sendsomeone else.”6. Moses had to make major adjustments in his life to join God in whathe was doing. Hebrews 11:24-29 – 24By Moses, when he wasgrown up, to be called the son of Pharaoh'sdaughter,25 rather to be mistreated withthe people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.26Heconsidered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than thetreasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27Byhe Egypt, not being afraid ofthe anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who isinvisible.28By he kept the Passover andsprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn mightnot touch them.29By the peoplethe Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when theyattempted to do the same, were drowned.7. Moses came to know God by experience as he obeyed God and Godaccomplished his work through Moses. Exodus 14:15-16, 21-22, 31 – 15The Lord said to Moses, “Why doyou cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. 16Lift upyour staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it,18
that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dryground.21Then Moses out his hand over thesea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind allnight and made the sea dry land, and the waters were.22And the people of Israel went into the midstof the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on theirright hand and on their left.31Israel saw the great power that theLord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord,and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.What can one “ordinary” person do?person with God with God .1 Corinthians 1:26-2926For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you wereaccording to worldly standards, not many were , not manywere of birth.27But God chose what isin the world to shame the wise; God chose what is in theworld to shame the strong;28God chose what is and despisedin the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things thatare,29so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.Summary Statements God what he is about to do.The revelation becomes an to join him.I can’t where I am and with God.God is able to do he pleases with one ordinaryperson fully to him.19
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God-centered LivingSelf-centeredLife focused on selfConfidence in self and youraccomplishmentsDepending on self and your ownabilitiesSeeking to be acceptable to theworld and its waysLooking at circumstances from ahuman perspectiveGod-centeredLife focused on GodConfidence in GodDepending on God and hisability/provisionSeeking to be acceptable to Godand to his waysLooking at circumstances fromGod’s perspective/KingdomperspectiveWho was self-centered and who was God-centered?Eve saw the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and eviland that it was pleasing to the eye desirable for gaining wisdom, so sheate it – Genesis 2-3Joseph resisted the temptation of Potiphar’s wife because hedid not want to sin against God – Genesis 39Ten of the spies Moses sent into the Promised Land said “Wecan’t attack those people; they are stronger than we.” – Numbers 13Joshua and Caleb said, “If the Lord is pleased with us, he willlead us into that land and will give it to us.” – Numbers 14King Asa was facing the army of Zerah the Cushite. He said,“Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the might.Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you and in your name we havecome against this army.” – 2 Chronicles 14:9-1121
King Asa and Judah were being threatened by Baasha, king ofIsrael. Asa sent gold and silver from the temple and his own palace tothe king of Aram asking for his help. – 2 Chronicles 16:1-3John 12:23-25 - 23And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for theSon of Man to be glorified.24Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain ofwheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, itbears much fruit.25Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates hislife in this world will keep it for eternal life.God’s purposes, not our plansA God-centered life focuses on God’s , not our own.When God acts in the world, he always uses people: When God was going to destroy the earth with a flood in Genesis 6,he came to . When God was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis18, he came to . When God was going to deliver the people from slavery in Judges 6,he came to . When God was going to start the greatest missionary explosionevery recorded, he came to .In each of these situations, what mattered most?God’s plansMan’s plansNone of these people were planning on God.None could imagine what God was to do.So none of their plans could have up withGod’s plan.You never find God asking people to dream up what they want to dofor him!22
God’s plans versus our plansMoses - Exodus 2:11-15Moses had a plan to free the Jews from slavery: His were good. His plans did not match plan. He chose to his plans. Results of Moses’ plan:We cause many of our own problems in this life by insisting onfollowing our plans instead of God’s plans.Israel - Numbers 13-14People’s perspective -God’s perspective -God hasn’t changedGod has not changed the way he works with people to carry out hisplans and his purposes.We have to our lives to God so that he can dous what he wants to do.God is not our - he will not move to meet us!Summary statements To know and do the will of God, I must self and have aGod- life.I must seek to see from God’s rather thanfrom my own distorted human perspective.I am the – I have to my life towhat God is about to do.23
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Small Groups #2Key VerseJohn 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in meand I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can donothing.Read John 15:1-11 and answer the followingquestions: What is our role in our relationship with God? What is God’s role in his relationship with us? What type of relationship does a vine have with its branches? What is one key to “bearing much fruit”? What does “bearing fruit” mean?25
Seven Realities1. God is always at work around you.2. God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real andpersonal.3. God invites you to become involved with him in his work.4. God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer,circumstances and the church to reveal himself, his purposes andhis ways.5. God’s invitation for you to work with him always leads you to a crisisof belief that requires faith and action.6. You must make major adjustments in your life to join God in whathe is doing.7. You come to know God by experience as you obey him and heaccomplishes his work through you.The Seven Realities in Action1. God was already working around Moses. Exodus 2:23-25 What was God doing in these verses? How was workingalready in this situation?2. God pursued a continuing love relationship with Moses that is realand personal. Exodus 3:10 How was God seeking a personal, real love relationship withMoses? (What had he done in the past to show Moses He wasseeking him?)26
3. God invited Moses to become involved with him in his work. Exodus 3:8, 10 How did God invite Moses to become involved in what he wasdoing?4. God spoke to Moses to reveal himself, his purposes and his ways. Exodus 3:2-8, 10How did God reveal himself to Moses? What were God’s purposes? What method would God use?27
5. God’s invitation for Moses to work with him lead to a crisis of beliefthat required faith and action. Exodus 3:11, 13; 4:1, 10; 4:13 What was the Crisis of belief for Moses?6. Moses had to make major adjustments in his life to join God in whathe was doing. Hebrews 11:24-29 What adjustments did Moses have to make in order to joinGod?7. Moses came to know God by experience as he obeyed God and Godaccomplished his work through Moses. Exodus 14:15-16, 21-22, 31 What things about God did Moses learn through his obedienceand through God accomplishing his work through the life ofMoses?28
God-centered livingTo live a God-centered life, you must start seeing things from God’sviewpoint or perspective rather than our own distorted viewpoint. Younever find God asking us to dream up something big that we want to dofor him. Our dreams and plans and goals will always be so small whencompared with what God wants to do. Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declaresthe Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a futureand a hope.Read John 12:23-25 and answer the questions below. Don’t just give theexpected answer try to really personalize it– What do I need to do?What do I need to change? How should I be living my life? Explain verse 25 in your own words. How do we “hate this life”?29
What are some things that are standing in the way of yourrelationship with God? What are some things you need to“lose” and “hate” in your life?Consider your current relationship with God. Are you living for yourselfor for Him? Are you carrying out your own plans and dreams or are youfocused on God’s plans for you?Take a few minutes to write out a prayer to God asking him to help youlive a God-centered life.30
God SpeaksGod takes the first stepList several examples from the Bible of someone who went to God witha great idea or plan and God implemented that plan and blessed it. Besure to give references!Every great thing that happened in the Bible was initiated by.Philippians 2:13 - for it is God who works in you, both to will and to workfor his good pleasure.How does God reveal his plan or purpose to us? Through the .Through the .Through .Through .Through the or other .Practical advice for seeking God’s will – GeorgeMueller Get my heart so on God that I have no will ofmy in regard to the matter.Do not trust or so that I am notliable to great delusions.31
Seek the will of the of God through or in connectionwith the of God.I take into account providential .I ask God in prayer to his will to me.I make a deliberate according to thebest of my ability and knowledge.I to seek God’s wisdom and insight and peace.I then proceed if my mind is at .How did Mueller begin in his search for God’s will?He tried to decide what he wanted to do for God.He tried to make sure he had no will of his own.He tried to want only God’s will.What did Mueller say leads to possible delusions or false directions?Basing the decision on feelings alone.Following the slightest impressions.Looking to the Spirit alone for direction.In which of the following pairs did Mueller look for agreement?His desires and circumstances.The Spirit and the Word.The counsel of others and his own desires.Circumstances and a sense of peace.What was the final test whereby Mueller came to a judgment aboutGod’s will?He identified whether the “door” was open or closed.He asked a pastor friend what he thought.He proceeded with a hunch and watched to see if it worked.He used prayer, Bible study and reflection to find lasting peaceabout a proposed direction.32
God speaks to his peopleOne of the problems we have hearing God speak to us is that we don’treally believe that God wants to speak to us!Hebrews 1:1-2a - 1Long ago, at many times and in many ways, Godspoke to our fathers by the prophets,2but in these last days he hasspoken to us by his Son. How did God speak during the Old Testament? How does God speak to us now?John 14:26 - But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send inmy name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance allthat I have said to you. Who did Jesus promise to send as a helper? What does the Holy Spirit do for us?John 16:13-14 - 13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you intoall the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever hehears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are tocome.14He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it toyou. What does the Holy Spirit do for us? Why is the significance of the Holy Spirit being called the “Spirit oftruth”?John 8:47 - Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason whyyou do not hear them is that you are not of God.”33
Why do people not hear from God?There is no secret method or formula we can follow toknow God’s voice. The key is having an intimate loverelationship with God!God speaks with a purposeHow many times in the Bible can you find an example of God speakingwith someone to simply “shoot the breeze”?When God speaks, he has a very specific purpose.Genesis 12:1-3 – God’s purpose in telling Abram to move wasThe momen
2. God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal. 3. God invites you to become involved with him in his work. 4. God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances and the church to reveal himself, his purposes and his ways. 5. Gods invitat
